The Barrington High School football team was a field goal away from celebrating its first win of the season.

On Friday night, the Eagles put themselves in a position to knock off Central with a last second kick. Trailing 8-6 with 9 seconds left to play, Barrington lined up for a 36-yard field goal attempt. 

But shortly after the snap, Central burst through the Eagles’ line and blocked the kick. A Knights defender scooped up the loose ball and sprinted to the end zone, handing Barrington its second straight 14-6 loss. The Eagles are now 0-3.

Central grabbed an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, but Barrington’s defense buckled down and did not allow another score. And at the start of the second quarter, the Eagles scored and cut the lead to 8-6. BHS quarterback Blake Dolan dropped back and found Charly Potter down the left sideline. Potter barreled over one defender and faked out another en route to the 60-yard touchdown. 

Barrington attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass attempt went incomplete.

The Eagles put themselves in a position to take the lead a few minutes later. After the defense held and forced a Central punt, the Barrington offense took over near midfield. On third down, Dolan handed the ball to Kellan Johnson who first looked like he would try to run for a first down. Then the junior pulled up and lofted a long spiral to JJ Davila, who hauled in the pass at the 10 yard line. 

But on first and goal from the 10, Barrington fumbled the ball and Central recovered. 

Late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles defense forced another Central punt. And with 2:20 remaining, the Barrington offense went to work moving the ball from its own 43 yard line to the Knights’ 19. A false start penalty pushed it back a bit, and on third and nine, the Eagles called timeout to set up the field goal try. A split second after the snap, Central plowed through the right side of the Eagles line and spoiled Barrington’s chance for victory. 

The Eagles will host Portsmouth this Friday night.